Karla Bigham
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Happy New Year, everyone! The 2019 legislative session begins Tuesday, Jan. 8 and will conclude no later than the first Monday after the third Saturday in May as prescribed by Minnesota's Constitution. During the next five-and-a-half months, state lawmakers are responsible for writing a new two-year budget. The Legislature's work begins in earnest when Minnesota Management and Budget releases a new forecast of state expenditures and revenue collections in February 2019.
As the daughter of a sailor and the granddaughter of a soldier, it is my honor to thank each and every individual who has served in our armed forces and made sacrifices to protect our freedoms. America is the greatest nation in history because of brave men and women who put themselves in harm's way to preserve our exceptional way of life. Our service members past and present are heroes in the truest sense possible.
It is my pleasure to welcome students of all ages back to classrooms, campuses and everywhere else you are building new skills and pursuing your dreams! As the daughter and sister of longtime public school employees, I also want to express my gratitude for every individual who makes our exceptional public education system possible.
On Feb. 20, 2018 — the same day I was sworn in as state senator — news broke that the state settled its lawsuit against the 3M for $850 million. The Minnesota attorney general filed the lawsuit in 2010 to hold 3M accountable for polluting drinking water and natural resources in the east metro. The Legislature passed a law to safeguard settlement resources, which protects taxpayers like you from having to pay for a problem you did not create.
The legislative session ended Sunday, May 20, and it's my pleasure to announce a major investment in east metro public safety I helped secure in the final hours.